Subgrade drag



@60 EQ2 SZ@ C. M. BUTTSy SUBGRADE DRAG.

FILED JULY 28. 1919. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1 A a@ f C15-@TABEL Essig, B922.RABZQ@ Cy M. BUTTS.

SUBGRADE DRAG. FILED JULY 28. 1919, 3 sHEETssHEET 3 mw/Mm E-@l-ILTEEMEM.

Patented Dec. 19, 1922.

CHARLES M. BUTTS, 0F ORVILLE, CALIFORNIA. i

sUBenADE DRAG.

Application filed July 28, 1919. Serial N0.-313,924

To all whom t may concern):

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. BUTTS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Orville, in the county of Butte and Sta-te of California,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Subgrade-Drags, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to highway or road building implements, and anobject .of the invention is to provide a device for building a sub-gradefor paved highways,`wl1ich will eliminate considerable of the manual.labor ordinarily necessary in the forming of a subgrade.

In theI construction of concrete or analogous highways,it is necessaryto build a subgrade, or a foundation upon which the pav-4 ing mateivialis laid, this foundation or subgrade must be uniform to insure an evenvthickness of the concrete, asphalt or analogous highwayv pavingsubstance, and in the majority of sectionsofthe country a curvedsub-grade is made substantially four inches below the finished pavement.

lt is an object of this invention to provide a device, which will travelupon the head board orfconcrete form along the sides of the highway, andwhich will level and properly form the foundation or sub-grade, cuttingoit the high places and filling in the low places, and also cutting or`forming this foundation or sub-grade in the proper shape to form a yshed for draining water to the sides ofthe highway, and which dragstructure specifically includes a carrying frame having ferrules orcutting teeth at its forward end, for loosening the soil in the highplaces and having positioned rearwardly thereof a plurality of cuttingblades which also act as scrapei's and are set, one slightly below theone next in front thereof, so as to form a gradual cutting away of thedown surface to form the sub-grade or foundation for the highway.

A further object of the invention is to provide suitable. Conveyorstructures, Awhich are provided for carrying surplus soil to the sidesof the highway and for eliminating the necessity of manual shovellingofthis surplus soil out of the highway bed and to provide means,engageable with the upper edge of one of the forms or header boards ofthe road bed construction which will op'- erate the conveyors during thetravel of the grader. l

In use, this grader is particularly designed to be drawn over thehighway by a roller, of any approved type such as are commonly employedfor rolling highway surfaces, and

since it is necessary to roll the foundation or subgrade after it hasbeen properly formed by the grader, it is necessary to provide means tofacilitate the lateral movement of the grader to permit the roller,normally eIIi ployed for propelling the drag to pass rearwardly thereoffor rolling the surface re' cently formedby the drag, and it is anobject of this invention to provide means in a Adrag structure asspecified, whereby the drag may be moved laterally. with comparativeease, the said structurecomprising a jack carried by the superstructurewhich is in turn supported by the frame of the dragand which has a trackstructure carried therebyupon which a pair of rollers engage,

said rollers being connected to the track structure',so v"that when thedrag structure is elevated by means of the jack structure, olf theheaderboard, it will roll laterally vor may be easily moved to one side,to `permit the roller to pass rearwardly thereof, after which grade dragshowing the same in an elevated position to which it ismoved by means ofthe jack structure.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the drag.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through the drag.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross section through the drag illustratingthe jack structure associated therewith.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section through a part of the drag'structure.

Figure 7 is a detail view illustrating apart of one of the carriersemployed for carrying the surplus dirt to the sides of the' highway.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary top plan of the jack structure.

Figure 9 is a detail section illustrating the manner of connecting theharrow teeth to their supporting bars.

Figure 10 is` a detail view of one of the jack levers, and

Figure 11 is a detail view partly in section of a part of the dragstructure.

Referring more particularly to 4the drawings, `wherein like charactersindicate like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, 15designates the main supporting frame of the drag or grader structure,which comprises side rails 16 and 17 connected by suitable cross braces18 and 19, the ends of the side rails 16 being braced by suitable anglebraces 20. The cross braces 18 and 19 have levers 21 pivotally connectedthereto, one at each corner of the frame 15, and these levers are heldin various adjusted positions through the medium of stop bolts 22 whichengage through any one of a series of openings 23 formed in standards 24which are carried by the side rails 16 and 17 at their ends. The innerend lof the levers 21 are connected through the medium of links 25 witha t'ool carrying frame 26 which frame is adjusted vertically by means ofthe levers 21. p*

The frame 26 carries a'pair of cross bars 27 and 28 at4 its forward end,preferably formed of channel iron and these cross bars each have aplurality-of harrow teeth 29 connected thereto in any approved manner,

, preferably by means of U shaped bolts 3() as clearly shown in Figures4 and 9 of the drawings, so as to permit adjustment of the position ofthe individual teeth 'with respect to their carrying bar. These teethare preferably arranged in staggered rows, that is, the teeth carried bythe supporting bar 28 are preferably disposed staggeringly with respectto the teeth 29 carried by the forward cross supporting bar 27 thuseffecting a thorough breaking up of any soil surface with which theyengage.

A cross bar 31 is positioned rearwardly of the cross bar 28 and as shownin Figures 1` and 4 of the drawings it is divided intermediate the siderails4 16 and 17 ,Y to accommodate the frame structure 32. The cross bar31 has a cutting blade 32a connected to each` section thereof, whichcutting blade is preferably positioned at an angle of substantially tothe vertical, so as to provide an inclined or angled cutting surface forengagement withv the soil after it has been broken up or loosened by theharrowteeth 29. The lower cutting edge of the blade 32%i is preferablypositionedl at approximately two inches above the desired finished levelof the foundation or sub-grade.

Cross bars 33 and 34 are positioned rearithe jack structure is in use.

wardly of the cross bar 31 and they carry cutting blades 35 and 36respectively, which are also positioned at an angle of approximately 30oto the vertical or parallel with the cuttingblade 32a, to which they aresimiwardly from'the forward or foremost blade,

the sub-surface or foundation of the highway will be gradually cut andlevelled. These blades 32, 35 and 36 are shaped, to conform to thedesired shape of the foundation or sub-surface, as clearly shown inFigure 2 of the drawings, preferably so as to form a sub-surface orfoundation which is liiigh in the center and gradually inclines towardeach side to form a proper water shed.

As previously stated in the objects of the invention, it is desirable tomove the drag structure laterally at certain times and to facilitate theaccomplishing thereof, the jack struct-ure 40 is provided. This jackstructure 40 includes the post 41 having the base 42 upon its lower end,which is provided for engagement with the sub-grade surface when Thispost 41 has ahead 43 upon its upper end, comprising a pair of spacedarms extending' upon opposide sides of the post, as clearly shown inFigure 8 of the dra-wings, from one arm to the other of each pair ofwhich extends a rivet or pin 44 which is engaged by thel dog structure45 during the use of the jack in either raising or lowering the jackstructure. The dogs k45 are connected t-o the operating levers 46 and47, one being connected to each lever, and these levers are pivotallyconnected to the dog 45 intermediate their ends having their lower innerends slottedas shown at 48, and connected to the post 41 for operatingthe jack structure. The levers 46 and y47 are pivotally carried'by thetruck structure 50 comprising spaced axles 51 and 52.

connected by connecting bars 53 to which the levers46 and 47 arep'iy'otally connected from which position the levers extend laterally ofthe frame structure 32. However, if it is desired that the levers 46 and-j47 extend 'longitudinally of the frame 32 they may be mounted upon theaxles ,51 and 52. Flange rollers 54 are mounted upon the ends of theaxles. 51 and 52and engage on a trackway 55 formed on the frame 32, sothat.`

when the jack structure 41 is lowered as travelling in each directionfrom the center of the drag structure, intermediate the ends thereof,which conveyors are provided for carrying surplus dirt to the sidesofthe highway or road bed. Each of the conveyor structures comprises ashaft- 62 .rotatably supported by suitable bearings 63 upon which ismounted a suitable sprocket about which the chains 64 ofthe conveyorpass. The chain 64 has buckets or fiights 65 attache-d thereto at spacedintervals, and these buckets face during the upper run of the chaintowardthe outer sides oredges of the drag structure, while on thedownward run they face toward the center of the drag structure so thatthey' will scoop up the sur- Y plus soil and 'carry it to the side ofthe drag. The outer; end of the chain 64 of each of the conveyorstructures travels about a sprocket 66 which is mounted upon a shaft 67.The shaft 67 'has 'a worm 68 there-on, which meshes with the worm `gear69. The wormgear 69 is mounted upon a suitable supporting shaft 70carried by a supporting frame or bracket structure 71. The `worm 69 inturn meshes with a worm gear 72 which projects aslight distance belowthe lower edge of the side rail 16 or 17 of the frame 15, so that duringthe travel ofthe dragover the forms or header boards indicated at A inFigure 2 of the drawings, the worms 72 will be rotated for transmittingmotion to the operating shaft 67 of its respective conveyor, to operatethe said conveyor for cai-ryin surplus soil to the sides of the roadway.

Iumming up, generically the operation of the improved subgrade drag isas follows: The tool carrying frame 26 is first adjusted at the properor desired elevation to" regulate the depth of the surface of the`foundation or sub-grade,` below the finished surface of the highway,and the drag structure is then -drawn over the header or form boards Aby suitable'type of propelling means during which ,movement the harrowteeth 29 will brealetup thel soil at the high places, loosen.

ing it, after whichit will be engaged respectively by theV blades 32a,35 and 36, thus levelled to provide the proper shape to the foundation.However, by particular reference to Figures and 4 of the drawings, it

will be noted that the cutting edges of the surfacing or cutting blades35 and 36 projects below the lower edges-of the harrow teeth 29, andthus a hard surface for the foundation vwill be formed in the majorityof places,the said blades pushing the surplus soil olf the top of thefoundation or subgrade. Any surplus soil which is not used in lillin upthe -low places will be conveyed to the sldes of the highway or road bedby the conveyors 60 and 61 after the drag structure is filled, the saidconveyor structures being positioned to permit the retaining of acertain amount of soil in the drag structure for filling in the lowplaces during the operation thereof. f

When it is desired to move the drag structure laterally the jackstructure 40 is operated, in a manner heretofore specified for raisingthe drag structure off the forms A and permitting it to be swunglaterally and through the medium of the rollers 54 and track structure55 rolled off of one of the tracks A thus partly removing it.from theroadwayand providing sufficient passage-` for a roller or the like.hanges in details may be made without departing from the spirit of thisinvention, but;

I claim: 1. In a highway drag or .surfacer, the combination ofa-plurality of vflat surfacing 'blades shaped to it transversely a roadsection each having its cutting edge positioned slightly lower than thecutting edge of the next forward blade."

2. In a highway surfacer, the combination of a supporting frame, a jackstructure associated with said supporting frame adapted to elevate saidframe for lateral swinging, and 'means permitting relative movement ofsaid frame away from said jack structure whensaid frame is elevated.

. 3. In a highway Vsurfacer, the combination of a supportingframe, ajack structure associated with said supporting frame adapted to elevateAsaid frame `for lateral swinging,

lsaid blade and operating in a. plane transversely of the plane of said`frame, said endless belt having earth engaging members thereon whichare disposed upwardly of the scraping edge of said blade and adapted tooperate upon the earth gathered forwardly of said blade.

.rie

5. In a highway drag or surfacer, the

combination of a supporting frame, a tool carrying frame carriedthereby, a plurality of 'surfacing blades carried by said toolcarrying'frame and each having its cutting 'edge positionedv slightlylower than the cutt'ingedge of the next forward blade, and a jackstructure associated with said tool whereby the drag carrying framewhereby the drag or surfacer structure may be elevated' out of operativeposition.

6. I'n a highway drag or surfacer, the combination of a supportingframe,a tool carrying frame carried thereby, a plurality of surfacing bladescarried by said tool carrying frame and each having its cutting edgepositioned slightly lower than the cutting edge of the next forwardblade, a jack structure associated with said tool carrying frame orsurfacer structure may be elevated out o structure carried by said toolcarrying frame, land a truck structure carried by said jack structureand engaging said -track structure to facilitate 'lateral movement ofthe drag or surfacer.

7. In a highway drag or surfacer, the

combinationof a supporting frame, a plu-- rality of surfacing bladescarried thereby, a track. structure carried by the supporting frame, ajack structure, a truck structure carried by said jack structure andengaging said track'structure, said jack structure adapted tobe operatedto elevate' the supporting structure out ofA an operative posi-` tion.

8. In a highway drag or surfacer, the combination of a supporting frame,a plurality of surfacing blades carried thereby, ya track structurecarried by the supporting frame, a jack structure, a track 'structurecarried by saidjack structure and engaging said track structure, saidjack structure adapted to be operated to elevate the supportingstructure out of an operative position, and a conveyor structure carriedby said supporting frame.

9. In a highway drag or surfacer, the combination of a vsupportingframe', a plurality of surfacing bladescarriedthereby, a track structurecarried by the Supporting frame, a jack structure, a track structurecarried by said jack structure and engaging said track structure, saidjack structure adapted to be operated to elevate thevsup-v portingstructure out ofan operative position, a conveyor structure carried bsaid supporting frame, and means opera le by the travel of the dragstructure for operating said conveyor structure.

10.In a highway surfacer, the combination of a trackway, a supportingframe slidably mounted on said trackway, a tool carrying frame, roadscraping tools carrled thereon, means permitting adjustment 'of saidtool carrying frame with respect to said supporting frame, al jackstructure carried by said tool carrying frame and movable longitudinallythereon, said jack` structure provided to elevate the entire surfacerfor removing it from the hi hway. s 11. In a highwaysur acer, thecomblnation of a trackway, a supporting frame slidably mounted on saidtraokway, a tool vcaroperative position, a track rying frame, roadscraping tools carried thereon, means permittlng adjustment of said toolcarrying frame with respect to said lsupporting frame, a jack structurecarried ing the same upon the jack as a pivot and then moving the entiresurfacer laterally ofI' of the track way. A

l2. In a highway drag or surfacer, the combination of a supportingframe, a plurality of surfacin blades each having its cutting edgepositloned slightly lowelI than the cutting edge of the next forwardblade, means carried by the supporting frame for elevating the drag orsurfacer structure out of an operative position, and a conveyorstructure carried by said drag structure, forconveying' soil laterallyof the drag structure.

I 13. In a highway drag or surfacer, the combination of a supportingframe, a con- Aveyor structure carried thereby, an operat- 111g shaftfor sald conveyor structure, a

gear carried by the supporting frame and projecting below the lower edgethereof for frictional. contact with the roadway for 'ro' tation duringthe travel of the drag structure, and means operatively connecting said'gear and conveyor operating shaft.

14. In a highway drag or surfacer, the

combination of a supporting frame, a conelevation to engage and scrapethe surface of a road, of an endless belt having a lower side movablydisposed longitudinally along the front side of said blade, said belthaving earth engaging members adapted to break lumps .of earth gatheredin front of said blade, and means for driving said. belt to break saidearth.

16. A. grader, comprising in combination a frame, a scraping elementmountejlonsaid frame, a pair of conveyors 'mo nted forwardly. of saidscraping element,y and longitudinally thereof, and means for drivingsaid conveyors in opposite directionsv to gather material collected bysaid scraper, and to deposit the same laterally of said grader.

is@ l 17. A grader` comprising in combination a frame, a scrapingelement mounted on said frame, a pair of conveyors mounted forwardly ofsaid scraping element and longitudinally thereof, each of said conveyorsoperating for substantially one-half of the length of said scrapingelement, and means for driving said conveyors in opposite direc tionsupon movement of said grader, to collect material from forwardly of saidscraping element, and to deposit the salne laterally of said grader.

CHARLES M. BUTTS.

